Monaco

The Principality of Monaco is a microstate on the French Riviera of Western Europe. It is bordered by only one other country: France, which surrounds it on three sides while the other side borders the Mediterranean Sea. The principality is technically a city-state because it is made up of one municipality, the Municipality of Monaco, although the municipality itself is divided into three wards: Monaco-Ville, which acts as the nation’s capital, Monte Carlo, the largest ward, and La Condamine, the central ward. The country is a constitutional monarchy headed by the Prince of Monaco of the House of Grimaldi. Monaco is the second smallest country in the world after the Vatican City. Monaco’s official language is French, although the native language, Monégasque, is still used, and the state religion is Catholicism. The country uses the euro as its official currency despite not being an official member of the European Union.